GAO Report Finds Flaws in TSA Anti-Terror Program

The Government Accountability Office found serious flaws in the Transportation Security Administration's behavior detection program in use at airports nationwide.

The GAO published a report in which it claimed only eight of the TSA's 36 behavioral indicators are based on proven science. The agency uses the indicators to evaluate people in airports and whether or not they pose a threat, terror or otherwise.

Further, the GAO said that 175 of the 178 sources the TSA cited in its behavioral indicator policy do not provide valid evidence of their claims. For example, 137 of the 178 sources are news articles, opinion pieces, presentations, and screenshots of medical websites — none of which are valid sources in the eyes of the GAO.

"After pressing TSA for years to provide scientific justification for its billion dollar behavior detection program, it is ridiculous that TSA provided little more than news articles and opinion pieces," Thompson said, according to The Hill.

The TSA has employed its behavior detection program for the last decade and uses it to ascertain if passengers are showing fear, stress, or deception within America's airports.

The TSA is also using fingerprint technology to help get travelers through airport security checkpoints faster.